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Love Is Murder #2
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride
When real life starts mimicking the plot of one of the romance books that line the shelves in her bookstore, it's up to Lizzie Hale to catch the killer, in this riveting new Love is Murder mystery.
Lizzie Hale thought mail-order brides existed only between the pages of the historical romances she stocks in her bookstore, Love Under the Covers. But when not one, but two local men introduce her to their respective new wives, she's forced to reevaluate that notion.
Lizzie is surprised when Al Little, the owner of the local hardware store, asks Lizzie and her aunt Charmaine to help Svetlana, his new bride straight from Russia, to settle into Tinker's Creek, but they agree.
Everything is going swimmingly—until a wrench gets thrown into their plans when Svetlana is found drowned in the creek.
With Al's suspicious best friend—who has his own mysterious mail-order bride—and the secretive matchmaker who put them together, Lizzie's got more suspects than she knows what to do with. But she'll have to nail down who the killer is fast, before someone else winds up dead.
Lizzie Hale thought mail-order brides existed only between the pages of the historical romances she stocks in her bookstore, Love Under the Covers. But when not one, but two local men introduce her to their respective new wives, she's forced to reevaluate that notion.
Lizzie is surprised when Al Little, the owner of the local hardware store, asks Lizzie and her aunt Charmaine to help Svetlana, his new bride straight from Russia, to settle into Tinker's Creek, but they agree.
Everything is going swimmingly—until a wrench gets thrown into their plans when Svetlana is found drowned in the creek.
With Al's suspicious best friend—who has his own mysterious mail-order bride—and the secretive matchmaker who put them together, Lizzie's got more suspects than she knows what to do with. But she'll have to nail down who the killer is fast, before someone else winds up dead.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published August 2, 2022
12 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Mimi Granger
2 books21 followersAlso writes as Miranda Bliss, Casey Daniels, Zoe Daniels, Connie Deka, Anastasia Hastings, Connie Lane, Connie Laux, Constance Laux, Kylie Logan, Lucy Ness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 5, 2022
Long time bachelor Al Little has found a bride thanks to the internet, and he is thrilled that Svetlana is coming to town. Lizzie Hale, owner of the romance bookstore in Tinker’s Cover, Ohio, gets roped into helping make sure their first meeting and their wedding is perfectly romantic. But when Svetlana turns up dead in the middle of the reception, the question becomes, who would want to kill a new comer to town?
This is a strong second book. The plot kept me engaged the entire time. I did guess a couple of plot points early, but there were so many more I didn’t see coming, including the ending. The book is focused on the new characters central to this mystery, and they are all strong. We do have a small core cast of characters who are back, and they are fun. I also enjoy watching Lizzie’s romantic life, which is a great romantic comedy sub-plot. If you are looking for a slight twist on a cozy mystery set up, this is a series you will love.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This is a strong second book. The plot kept me engaged the entire time. I did guess a couple of plot points early, but there were so many more I didn’t see coming, including the ending. The book is focused on the new characters central to this mystery, and they are all strong. We do have a small core cast of characters who are back, and they are fun. I also enjoy watching Lizzie’s romantic life, which is a great romantic comedy sub-plot. If you are looking for a slight twist on a cozy mystery set up, this is a series you will love.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 3, 2022
Dollycas Thoughts
Love Under The Covers owner Lizzie Hale is surprised to learn that two local Tinker’s Creek men had done something she thought only happened in historical romance novels on the shelves of her store. Local contractor Dan Cameron has been married to his Russian mail-order bride Galina for a couple of years. Now, Al Little, the owner of the hardware store is expecting his mail-order bride Svetlana very soon. He has asked Lizzle and her aunt Charmaine to help him welcome her to town and soon Charmaine is planning their wedding and Lizzie is the maid of honor.
Things seem to go off with a hitch until the bride is found drowned in the creek.
Lizzie comes up with plenty of suspects but Al thinks Dan Cameron may have killed Swetlana to cover up something about his own marriage. Lizzie has Dan and his wife on her suspect list too so she is going to find the killer as quickly as she can and stop the craziness that has come to Tinker’s Creek.
I really like Lizzie, she is such a fun protagonist and she has to be with all her Aunt Charmaine’s antics. She does get a little distracted though when Park Ranger Max Alvarez enters the picture, in person or in her daydreams. Their relationship is definitely moving in the right direction. Charmaine has an opinion on everything and feels free to share it at will including every bit of gossip she hears around town. All the main characters are developing nicely.
The supporting cast is full of the type of people you find in any small town. Some are reserved and quiet and others are quirky as can be. The new characters introduced came to life very quickly. I think Lizzie’s “large dog of questionable parentage” Violet was featured more in this book than in the first. I love how Lizzie has grown so attached to her.
The mystery plot is tightly adhered to the romance subplot. At times the romance gets more attention than I normally like in my cozies mysteries but this author is a pro at twisting plot lines together. I enjoyed that history was brought into the mystery along with an item that set things in motion. The twists including some misinformation were placed well and set up an exciting ending.
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride was a very entertaining read. Like I said a little heavy on the romance but I was totally engaged by these characters and what was happening all around them.
Love Under The Covers owner Lizzie Hale is surprised to learn that two local Tinker’s Creek men had done something she thought only happened in historical romance novels on the shelves of her store. Local contractor Dan Cameron has been married to his Russian mail-order bride Galina for a couple of years. Now, Al Little, the owner of the hardware store is expecting his mail-order bride Svetlana very soon. He has asked Lizzle and her aunt Charmaine to help him welcome her to town and soon Charmaine is planning their wedding and Lizzie is the maid of honor.
Things seem to go off with a hitch until the bride is found drowned in the creek.
Lizzie comes up with plenty of suspects but Al thinks Dan Cameron may have killed Swetlana to cover up something about his own marriage. Lizzie has Dan and his wife on her suspect list too so she is going to find the killer as quickly as she can and stop the craziness that has come to Tinker’s Creek.
I really like Lizzie, she is such a fun protagonist and she has to be with all her Aunt Charmaine’s antics. She does get a little distracted though when Park Ranger Max Alvarez enters the picture, in person or in her daydreams. Their relationship is definitely moving in the right direction. Charmaine has an opinion on everything and feels free to share it at will including every bit of gossip she hears around town. All the main characters are developing nicely.
The supporting cast is full of the type of people you find in any small town. Some are reserved and quiet and others are quirky as can be. The new characters introduced came to life very quickly. I think Lizzie’s “large dog of questionable parentage” Violet was featured more in this book than in the first. I love how Lizzie has grown so attached to her.
The mystery plot is tightly adhered to the romance subplot. At times the romance gets more attention than I normally like in my cozies mysteries but this author is a pro at twisting plot lines together. I enjoyed that history was brought into the mystery along with an item that set things in motion. The twists including some misinformation were placed well and set up an exciting ending.
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride was a very entertaining read. Like I said a little heavy on the romance but I was totally engaged by these characters and what was happening all around them.
September 27, 2022
Lizzie Hale is distracted from running her romance bookstore and lusting after the local Ranger when the owner of the local hardware store introduces his mail-order bride Svetlana. Lizzie is surprised that Al got his bride from an on-line service, as one of his friends did the same thing with unhappy results. If Svetlana seems a little strange, it's no wonder, after she's traveled from Russia to the Cuyahoga River valley. But when she's found dead on her wedding day, Lizzie is afraid that Al will be suspected.
July 29, 2022
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride by Mimi Granger is a lighthearted cozy mystery. Lizzie Hale owns Love Under the Covers a romance bookstore in Tinker’s Creek, Ohio. Lizzie along with her aunt, Charmaine finds themselves helping Al Little welcome his Russian bride. He wants Svetlana to feel comfortable in her new home plus Al needs their help with the wedding preparations. Svetlana, Al’s Russian bride, arrives and announces the wedding will take place in less than a week. Charmaine throws herself into planning a wedding in the park. Lizzie finds herself appointed the maid of honor and begins hunting for an appropriate pink dress (Svetlana insists on pink). The ceremony is just lovely. Before the cake can be cut, Lizzie finds Svetlana dead in the creek. Who could have wanted Svetlana dead and why? Al asks Lizzie to don her sleuthing cap once again and learn who killed his Russian bride. Murder of a Mail-Order Bride is the second book in A Love is Murder Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone if you did not read Death of a Red-Hot Rancher. We learn more about Lizzie in this book. The story is told from Lizzie’s perspective which makes us privy to her thoughts. Lizzie is attracted to Max Alvarez, the local park ranger. He definitely consumes her thoughts (and her daydreams). There is chemistry between the pair. I can tell that the author wrote romance novels before embarking on cozy mysteries. The proportion of romance to mystery is out of balance (way too much romance). The mystery is straightforward with a dead woman and an amateur sleuth looking into the crime. The solution was obvious. There are pointed clues to help the reader solve the crime. The mystery did have some interesting bits and there was a unique clue. I do like how the more obscure clues lined up. Charmaine is an over-the-top character. She is one of those people who do not take no for answer (she is quirky, dresses outlandishly). There are a couple of other off-beat characters in the story. There is humor sprinkled throughout. There is the requisite small town, charming shops, and a cute dog. I wanted to give this series another shot (which I did). I discovered that it is not the right fit for me. For those who enjoy quirky characters, first person point-of-view, a heaping helping of romance, silly humor, and a light mystery, then A Love is Murder Mysteries is for you. Murder of a Mail-Order Bride is a giddy tale with a surprise Russian bride, rapid wedding planning, a quarreling couple, train fanatics conference, curious clues, a butchered bride, and an electric connection.
May 8, 2025
This book is a lesson of “you can’t pay for love” and just a hilarious all-around ride with a lot of greedy people.
Typically, when I read a cozy mystery, I am expected to be entertained, but it’s rare for me to rate them up into the 4 or 5 star simply because I think they are a popcorn style read … for me. This one, I can say, entertained me completely from beginning to end. That gave it a boost.
I also think that perhaps because a lot of the relationships were well established in the first book with relation to the main character, Lizzie, and everyone around her, this book didn’t need a ton of that. So it jumped off into the story from the beginning and already had a feel for who each of these people was. Even Al, the hardware store owner, and poor schmuck that decided he was going to have a “Mail-Order Bride” was a return character.
So the story begins with Al and his so-called bride getting married. And let me tell you, unless you’re completely dumb, you know that something is off about this woman from the get-go. She’s just a bit too anxious to get this marriage completed. And at the end, after the ceremony is done, she says to Al, and I quote:
“Marriage is official. Sucker. Your fortune is mine!”
The only problem is, Al doesn’t have a fortune and has no clue what this woman is talking about. Yep, something isn’t right. And then, of course, Svetlana aka Sharona (which they find out later) ends up floating in the river.
Seriously, this was great. Right from the point that Svetlana showed up at the beginning, and right through to the end. Did I guess who the murderer was? To be honest, I had a couple of suspects, and that person was one of them, but probably not top of the list. So the author kept me guessing right until the end.
Typically, when I read a cozy mystery, I am expected to be entertained, but it’s rare for me to rate them up into the 4 or 5 star simply because I think they are a popcorn style read … for me. This one, I can say, entertained me completely from beginning to end. That gave it a boost.
I also think that perhaps because a lot of the relationships were well established in the first book with relation to the main character, Lizzie, and everyone around her, this book didn’t need a ton of that. So it jumped off into the story from the beginning and already had a feel for who each of these people was. Even Al, the hardware store owner, and poor schmuck that decided he was going to have a “Mail-Order Bride” was a return character.
So the story begins with Al and his so-called bride getting married. And let me tell you, unless you’re completely dumb, you know that something is off about this woman from the get-go. She’s just a bit too anxious to get this marriage completed. And at the end, after the ceremony is done, she says to Al, and I quote:
“Marriage is official. Sucker. Your fortune is mine!”
The only problem is, Al doesn’t have a fortune and has no clue what this woman is talking about. Yep, something isn’t right. And then, of course, Svetlana aka Sharona (which they find out later) ends up floating in the river.
Seriously, this was great. Right from the point that Svetlana showed up at the beginning, and right through to the end. Did I guess who the murderer was? To be honest, I had a couple of suspects, and that person was one of them, but probably not top of the list. So the author kept me guessing right until the end.
June 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. This book for me was much easier to get into than the first book, I think because of the print. However I loved the banter between Lizzie, Charmaine, Max and of course the mystery of what was going to happen next.
February 18, 2023
Another series that needs more than 2 books! I really enjoyed this one. Somehow the author takes things that have no place in Ohio and makes it work. I’d really like to see what happens to these characters, I think things are just starting to get interesting. Good mystery that kept me guessing.
February 16, 2025
4 stars
Valentine Day might be over when I read this exactly one day after 14th Feb, but why not mix romance and murder to celebrate the day when love celebrated even I late by one day? Last year I read Death of a Red-Hot Rancher, a first in Love is Murder Mystery written by Mimi Granger (one of many Connie Laux's pen names) and really enjoy it. Cozy mystery with ROMANCE Bookstore as setting? I'm sold! Sadly, the aforementioned bookstore kinda take a back burner in the second book but I still find our heroine, Lizzie Hale's sleuthing entertaining. Granger also use "mail-order bride", one of staples from romance genre but for this book as seen as in cover but apparently the mail-order bride is not what she seems to be.
The book start with a bang..or murder. Like the murder literally happen in the first page with Lizzie as a bride maid try to save the bride from drowning only to find that the bride already dead of strangulation. The story then start with what happen days before the wedding. Al Little, one of Tinker Creeks' citizen finally find love of his life, a woman call Svetlana hails from Russia. Lizzie and her aunt, Charmaine agree to become a wedding planner but not before Lizzie find that some of Svetlana's activity seems weird. When the bride end up dead and Al was wailing from his misery, turn that Svetlana hide one or two facts about herself that maybe result in her demise. By helping Max Alvarez, the sexy ranger whom Lizzie have crushed with in his investigation, Lizzie discover that the case might be more than the bride's death.
Just like book 1, book 2 also told entirely from Lizzie's first PoV. Unlike book 1, the romance is more like focus although didn't deter from the mystery. Both Lizzie and Max finally reveal their feeling to each other, although more like Max did it first. I like their dynamic not only in romance department but also how they collaborating in investigation. Theirs remind me of one of my favorite series, In Death by J.D. Robb although gender reverse. Sure at first Max was hesitant to let Lizzie join his investigation, but I get that he only worried that Lizzie will hurt herself. After that, he trust Lizzie and yes, our Lizzie is the one who deduct who the culprit was. Although, the culprit is not what I guess at first and the revelation also the conclusion regarding the culprit's fate in the end feels pretty lacking.
I really enjoy Love is a Murder Mystery series but sadly the series only have 2 books! This series have potential with how Lizzie not only have romance with Max, but their investigations is what make me love this book. Of course there is an adorable doggo called Violet and Tinker Creeks's citizen with their quirk only add the charm that the series have. If in the future Granger decide to write more Lizzie's adventure in sleuthing, mark my word, I will buy and gobble it up in one sitting!
Valentine Day might be over when I read this exactly one day after 14th Feb, but why not mix romance and murder to celebrate the day when love celebrated even I late by one day? Last year I read Death of a Red-Hot Rancher, a first in Love is Murder Mystery written by Mimi Granger (one of many Connie Laux's pen names) and really enjoy it. Cozy mystery with ROMANCE Bookstore as setting? I'm sold! Sadly, the aforementioned bookstore kinda take a back burner in the second book but I still find our heroine, Lizzie Hale's sleuthing entertaining. Granger also use "mail-order bride", one of staples from romance genre but for this book as seen as in cover but apparently the mail-order bride is not what she seems to be.
The book start with a bang..or murder. Like the murder literally happen in the first page with Lizzie as a bride maid try to save the bride from drowning only to find that the bride already dead of strangulation. The story then start with what happen days before the wedding. Al Little, one of Tinker Creeks' citizen finally find love of his life, a woman call Svetlana hails from Russia. Lizzie and her aunt, Charmaine agree to become a wedding planner but not before Lizzie find that some of Svetlana's activity seems weird. When the bride end up dead and Al was wailing from his misery, turn that Svetlana hide one or two facts about herself that maybe result in her demise. By helping Max Alvarez, the sexy ranger whom Lizzie have crushed with in his investigation, Lizzie discover that the case might be more than the bride's death.
Just like book 1, book 2 also told entirely from Lizzie's first PoV. Unlike book 1, the romance is more like focus although didn't deter from the mystery. Both Lizzie and Max finally reveal their feeling to each other, although more like Max did it first. I like their dynamic not only in romance department but also how they collaborating in investigation. Theirs remind me of one of my favorite series, In Death by J.D. Robb although gender reverse. Sure at first Max was hesitant to let Lizzie join his investigation, but I get that he only worried that Lizzie will hurt herself. After that, he trust Lizzie and yes, our Lizzie is the one who deduct who the culprit was. Although, the culprit is not what I guess at first and the revelation also the conclusion regarding the culprit's fate in the end feels pretty lacking.
I really enjoy Love is a Murder Mystery series but sadly the series only have 2 books! This series have potential with how Lizzie not only have romance with Max, but their investigations is what make me love this book. Of course there is an adorable doggo called Violet and Tinker Creeks's citizen with their quirk only add the charm that the series have. If in the future Granger decide to write more Lizzie's adventure in sleuthing, mark my word, I will buy and gobble it up in one sitting!
July 24, 2022
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride by Mimi Granger
Published: August 2, 2022
Berkley
Pages: 272
Genre: Cozy Mystery
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Mimi Granger began her publishing career writing historical romance. Many years later, there’s still nothing she likes better than a happily-ever-after...as long as there’s a little murder and mayhem thrown in. Her Love is Murder mystery series provides the perfect opportunity to salute the two genres she loves most—romance and mystery—and to play out every reader’s dream of owning a fabulous bookstore. Mimi lives outside of Cleveland with her own personal romance hero and two dogs: Eliot, an enthusiastic Airedale, and Lucy, who provides the inspiration for Violet in her stories (including the incredible amount of shed fur).
“The next day was the wedding. Things had to get better. Right?”
Lexie is working in her shop when another business owner comes in and asks her for help. He’s met someone online, and she’s coming to town! There is a wedding to plan and no time to waste. When the bride ends up face down in the canal after the wedding, everyone is stunned. There is a murderer somewhere on the loose and, of course, a grieving groom to console. Lizzie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, but this time there is a target on her back.
This series is so good! We are back with our characters, diving deeper into the town's history and the connections between the past and present.
We get to know Lizzie so much more in this second novel, which is fantastic. The chemistry with Max is strong as ever, and I am ready for someone to make a move- and more than just the cowboy boogie.
I enjoyed getting to know other citizens of Tinker’s Creek. Al was such a sweet character, hardworking and kind. Otis was a crabby old man who was selfish and mean-spirited. Galina was a mail-order bride who was not the warmest neighbor in the town.
I am enjoying the dynamic between Max and Lizzie and am looking forward to what happens between them. Again, Violet was a cute side character, and I’m glad she was given more of a showcase in this book.
I am ready for book 3! Hopefully, we won’t have to wait a whole year to discover what is happening in this charming small town.
Published: August 2, 2022
Berkley
Pages: 272
Genre: Cozy Mystery
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Mimi Granger began her publishing career writing historical romance. Many years later, there’s still nothing she likes better than a happily-ever-after...as long as there’s a little murder and mayhem thrown in. Her Love is Murder mystery series provides the perfect opportunity to salute the two genres she loves most—romance and mystery—and to play out every reader’s dream of owning a fabulous bookstore. Mimi lives outside of Cleveland with her own personal romance hero and two dogs: Eliot, an enthusiastic Airedale, and Lucy, who provides the inspiration for Violet in her stories (including the incredible amount of shed fur).
“The next day was the wedding. Things had to get better. Right?”
Lexie is working in her shop when another business owner comes in and asks her for help. He’s met someone online, and she’s coming to town! There is a wedding to plan and no time to waste. When the bride ends up face down in the canal after the wedding, everyone is stunned. There is a murderer somewhere on the loose and, of course, a grieving groom to console. Lizzie finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, but this time there is a target on her back.
This series is so good! We are back with our characters, diving deeper into the town's history and the connections between the past and present.
We get to know Lizzie so much more in this second novel, which is fantastic. The chemistry with Max is strong as ever, and I am ready for someone to make a move- and more than just the cowboy boogie.
I enjoyed getting to know other citizens of Tinker’s Creek. Al was such a sweet character, hardworking and kind. Otis was a crabby old man who was selfish and mean-spirited. Galina was a mail-order bride who was not the warmest neighbor in the town.
I am enjoying the dynamic between Max and Lizzie and am looking forward to what happens between them. Again, Violet was a cute side character, and I’m glad she was given more of a showcase in this book.
I am ready for book 3! Hopefully, we won’t have to wait a whole year to discover what is happening in this charming small town.
March 6, 2022
Lizzie Hale is back, dishing up the romance for book club member Al Little's newly arrived mail-order bride from Russia. No sooner have Al and Svetlana tied the knot then someone reaches the end of their rope with the bride and turns her wedding day into her last day on earth. Teaming up with handsome ranger Max Alvarez, Lizzie follows the clues to the killer.
This series is everything you would expect from a cozy series, the characters are standard fare, there's a dog, a small business catering to the main characters passions (in more ways than one), and a small town that seems idyllic but experiences more than its fair share of tragedy and violence. I love all of that. Is it unique? Maybe not, but this book has everything I love about cozies.
The ending of this book was very exciting. Not only is the culmination of the mystery exciting, but two things happen that give the reader some pretty big hints about what might be coming in the next book. I can't wait to read it!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
This series is everything you would expect from a cozy series, the characters are standard fare, there's a dog, a small business catering to the main characters passions (in more ways than one), and a small town that seems idyllic but experiences more than its fair share of tragedy and violence. I love all of that. Is it unique? Maybe not, but this book has everything I love about cozies.
The ending of this book was very exciting. Not only is the culmination of the mystery exciting, but two things happen that give the reader some pretty big hints about what might be coming in the next book. I can't wait to read it!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
February 21, 2022
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride is is the 2nd book in this series. Lizzie Hale owns a successful bookshop called, Love under The Covers. Al Little, the owner of the local hardware store, asks Lizzie and her aunt Charmaine to help plan his wedding to his new bride Svetlana, who is straight from Russia. Everything goes smoothly til the bride is found drowned in the creek shortly after the wedding. Al is a suspect as he was overheard arguing with the bride after the wedding. Then there's Al's best friend Dan,who also has a Russian mail-order bride, who acts suspicious after the murder. Why did he change his suit after the wedding? Lizzie Knows Al isnt guilty and looks for clues to help clear his name, often butting heads with Park Ranger Max. I enjoyed this book and and look forward to the next one! Thank you netgalley for the adance copy.
July 11, 2022
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride by Mimi Granger is the second book in the A Love Is Murder Mystery series. This book has it all: mystery, suspense, romance and cowboy boogie. Local hardware store owner Al Little contracts to have a mail-order bride from Russia, Svetlana. But when Svetlana arrives she isn't exactly what Al imagined. In any event the wedding must go on! And it did until the bride is found drowned in the creek after the marriage ceremony. Enter amateur sleuth Lizzie Hale and park ranger Max Alverez and the hunt is on for a murderer.
I enjoyed this fast-paced, suspenseful whodunit. The characters are likable and the way Lizzie and Max followed the clues to find the murderer was very entertaining. This is a super addition to the series.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I enjoyed this fast-paced, suspenseful whodunit. The characters are likable and the way Lizzie and Max followed the clues to find the murderer was very entertaining. This is a super addition to the series.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
September 12, 2022
Gotta love a heroine who owns a romance bookstore and is an endearing klutz when it comes to her own love life. :-) And such a fun idea for a cozy series -- where each mystery is centred around a romantic trope...in this case, the all-time favourite mail-order bride!
Lizzie makes a great amateur sleuth -- her natural nosiness lends itself to the job plus she has her Aunt Charmaine egging her on. And it helps to have a cousin in law enforcement. But her park ranger might-someday-be-a-love-interest makes the perfect sounding board for all Lizzie's wild ideas...even if she does drive him crazy with her penchant for placing herself in danger. And canine sidekick, Violet is back in all her floofy splendour which makes me a kinds of happy.
A creative mystery with some great twists and turns.
Lizzie makes a great amateur sleuth -- her natural nosiness lends itself to the job plus she has her Aunt Charmaine egging her on. And it helps to have a cousin in law enforcement. But her park ranger might-someday-be-a-love-interest makes the perfect sounding board for all Lizzie's wild ideas...even if she does drive him crazy with her penchant for placing herself in danger. And canine sidekick, Violet is back in all her floofy splendour which makes me a kinds of happy.
A creative mystery with some great twists and turns.
May 24, 2024
This book was a random pick from my local library, and it wasn't bad. It was easy to read and the writing was decent, save for some corniness.
Lizzie, a 2022 30-something, speaks like she grew up in the 1950s. The author is out of touch with modern-day parlance, but at least Lizzie is decent at self-reflection because she is, in fact, a complete dork.
Lizzie, a 2022 30-something, speaks like she grew up in the 1950s. The author is out of touch with modern-day parlance, but at least Lizzie is decent at self-reflection because she is, in fact, a complete dork.
September 24, 2022
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and had been looking forward to the second book being released for awhile. The second was just as enjoyable as the first in the series. The only thing that really bothered me was that Lizzie kept putting herself into dangerous situations for no reason. I didn’t understand why she didn’t just call the police. That can get a bit annoying after awhile. I thought that the story, charac, and mystery were well done though and I love that Lizzie owns a romance bookstore. That fascinates me. Overall, this is a good series and I hope that it will have more books come out soon.
February 10, 2022
A love Murder Mystery? No need to say more I'm already in! Lizzie, the main character is a bookstore owner and finds her life mimicking the plot of a romance book. I loved how smart she is and adored the assumptions she kept making throughout the book, no matter how right they were, it showed a great mind. This was a mystery filled plot with greatly written characters that perfectly fit into every aspect of the story.
August 1, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride is a hilarious addition to the Love is Murder mystery series. This book follows Lizzie, who is living the dream owning the world’s most perfect bookstore, as she solves yet another murder in her small town. When one of her quirky friends announces that he is marrying a woman from Russia that he met online, Lizzie tries to be supportive. When his bride turns up dead on their wedding night, Lizzie must protect her friend and solve the crime. This upsets the hot park ranger, Max, and he broods and flirts with Lizzie throughout their investigation.
I love this series so much. It is so fun and fresh and addicting. Lizzie and Max and all the residents of Tinker’s Creek are so endearing. Full of twists, romance, and coziness, Murder of a Mail-Order Bride is another excellent mystery by Mimi Granger!
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars
Murder of a Mail-Order Bride is a hilarious addition to the Love is Murder mystery series. This book follows Lizzie, who is living the dream owning the world’s most perfect bookstore, as she solves yet another murder in her small town. When one of her quirky friends announces that he is marrying a woman from Russia that he met online, Lizzie tries to be supportive. When his bride turns up dead on their wedding night, Lizzie must protect her friend and solve the crime. This upsets the hot park ranger, Max, and he broods and flirts with Lizzie throughout their investigation.
I love this series so much. It is so fun and fresh and addicting. Lizzie and Max and all the residents of Tinker’s Creek are so endearing. Full of twists, romance, and coziness, Murder of a Mail-Order Bride is another excellent mystery by Mimi Granger!
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2022
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance e-galley for honest review.
The second in this series is just as engaging as the first, and the combination of a romance loving book store owner and a murder mystery to solve really works. This one further develops the community and the characters, even including some nice history of the area. The murder of the "mail order bride" and the details revealed throughout made for a solid story.
The second in this series is just as engaging as the first, and the combination of a romance loving book store owner and a murder mystery to solve really works. This one further develops the community and the characters, even including some nice history of the area. The murder of the "mail order bride" and the details revealed throughout made for a solid story.
November 11, 2022
I was excited to continue with the romance bookstore owner Lizzie Hale.
Drama abounds in Tinker's Creak when hardware store owner, Al and Lizzie's friend invites his Russian online girlfriend home to marry her. But Svetlana ends up dead in the canal just a little after the couple says their vows. Ranger Max and Lizzie attempt to solve the case while not admitting their feelings for one another.
I thought this was okay. I wasn't that encouraged to fly through.
Drama abounds in Tinker's Creak when hardware store owner, Al and Lizzie's friend invites his Russian online girlfriend home to marry her. But Svetlana ends up dead in the canal just a little after the couple says their vows. Ranger Max and Lizzie attempt to solve the case while not admitting their feelings for one another.
I thought this was okay. I wasn't that encouraged to fly through.
August 10, 2022
I had everything figured out pretty much from the beginning then the author throws in a plot twist and I was overjoyed. 😊 I had part of the "bad guys" figured out but when it was revealed I had that " yeah I can see that NOW" moment. 😊 (love that) The ending was my favorite out of the whole book and I can't be happier for Al. 👩❤️👨 Very good afternoon read. 👍
January 22, 2023
This is not a typical bookstore cozy, or at least this book wasn't. It's the first I've read in this series so it could be an anomaly.
I found this book interesting and a bit quirky. I'm willing to give the series another go, but I'm not sure how sustainable the concept is. I liked the characters though.
I found this book interesting and a bit quirky. I'm willing to give the series another go, but I'm not sure how sustainable the concept is. I liked the characters though.
October 21, 2022
I have enjoyed this second installment in this series. It’s an enjoyable mystery with unique characters and settings.
October 27, 2022
Nice cozy mystery
January 3, 2023
Choppy. Some good skeletal structure.
June 10, 2023
This one was going to be a four star read, until the ending to the mystery which left a lot to be desired.
September 17, 2023
Fun quick read
August 2, 2024
A cute little who done it.
October 22, 2024
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the mystery and setting, but I wish more time was spent in the romance bookshop. Loved the sweet ending to one of the subplots!
August 26, 2025
max is a douche
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